Chris Davis, Retired


Date of Birth: 3/17/1986
Birthplace: Longview, Texas
College: Navarro College
Nickname: Crush

Chris Davis, retired first baseman, was first drafted in 2004 by the New York Yankees but he chose not to sign with them. A year later, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels and he again didn't sign. When the Texas Rangers drafted him in 2006, he finally agreed to sign with a major league team. Two years later, he made his first appearance with the Rangers, playing in 80 games with them in 2008. The following season, he played in 113 games and batted .238 with 21 home runs.

The Rangers, unimpressed with Davis, sent him to the minor leagues for most of the 2010 season. On July 30, 2011, they traded him to the Baltimore Orioles. In 2012, Davis batted .270 with 139 hits and 33 home runs in 139 games.

In 2013, Davis impressed baseball fans with his powerful hitting, leading the American League in home runs with 53 and in RBIs with 138. He won his first Silver Slugger award and batted .286 with 167 hits and 42 doubles.

On September 12, 2014, Davis was suspended for 25 games after testing positive for adderall, an amphetamine. He didn't play with the Orioles in the playoffs. He had a disappointing 2014 season, finishing with 88 hits, 16 doubles, 26 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .196 batting average in 127 games.

Davis led all major league baseball players in home runs in 2015 with 47. He finished the season with 150 hits, 31 doubles, 117 RBIs, and a .262 batting average in 160 games. Defensively, at first base, he made 53 assists, 77 double plays, 882 putouts, and 3 errors in 111 games.

Davis signed a new seven-year, $161 million contract with the Orioles on January 21, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with 125 hits, 21 doubles, 38 home runs, 84 RBIs, and a .221 batting average in 157 games. Defensively, as the Orioles' first baseman in 152 games, he made 62 assists, 138 double plays, 1,325 putouts, and 10 errors. He had no hits in three at-bats in one game in the postseason.

Davis spent time on the DL in 2017, limiting his playing time to 128 games. He batted just .215 with 98 hits, 15 doubles, 26 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 195 strikeouts to 61 walks. Defensively, as the Orioles' first baseman in 125 games, he made 80 assists, 122 double plays, 1,015 putouts, and 7 errors.

Davis struggled in 2018, finishing with a .168 batting average. He had 79 hits, 16 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 192 strikeouts to 41 walks in 128 games. Defensively, as the Orioles' first baseman in 116 games, he made 67 assists, 98 double plays, 913 putouts, and 5 errors. He had a .995 fielding percentage.

Davis spent time on the DL in 2019 with left hip inflammation. He finished the season with 55 hits and a .179 batting average in 105 games. Defensively, as the Orioles' first baseman in 97 games, he made 37 assists, 86 double plays, 671 putouts, and 4 errors.

Davis played in just 16 games in 2020, and he had 6 hits, 3 doubles, and a .115 batting average. He started the 2021 season on the IL. He decided to retire on August 12th, 2021.

Career batting statistics for Davis through 2020 include:

  • 1,417 games played
  • 1,160 hits
  • 228 doubles
  • 295 home runs
  • 780 RBIs
  • 1,852 strikeouts to 555 walks
  • .233 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Davis at first base through 2020 include:

  • 1,147 games played
  • 573 assists
  • 1,002 double plays
  • 9,204 putouts
  • 52 errors
  • .995 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Davis married his wife Jill in 2011.

On February 24, 2015, Davis received an exemption to use Vyvanse, a drug used to treat ADHD, a condition Davis was diagnosed with in 2008.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Chris Davis
ESPN - Chris Davis